brisbane to uluru to darwin to brisbane

Hi Christine, A lot depends how much time you have and if you wish to stay on the bitumen . The shortest way would be across to Charlieville, Barcaldine, Mt isa to Tennant Creek then down to Uluru. From there straight up to Darwin and back to the Three Ways and home. Alternatively do a lefthand turn at Daily Waters and go out to Cape Crawford and down to Barkly Homestead. That road is sealed but very rough in places; if fact most places.

If time is not an issue you could go via Bourke, Cobar to Broken Hill then across to Port Pirie. From there it's up to Woomera, Cooper Peedy then to Uluru. Make sure you fill up your fuel tanks at Erdundra before going to Yulara. In June last year the a 16 cent difference in the price of diesel $1-95 to $2-11. At Kings canyon it was a$2-35. The same applies to the Barkly Homestead. 3 Ways and Camooweal are the best places. The Barkly Homestad just for a top up. Good idea to keep the tanks tanks topped up; talk to travellers coming the other way for feed back
Time wise, if you don't wish to melt away avoid October to March, the humidity kills me.

Happy travelling
Cheers

Hi Christine,

The best time to go is during the dry season = winter months, say May through to October. Which way from Brisbane? Suggest head to Birdsville then up to Boulia and head west from there along the Plenty Highway. The Plenty is gravel and can be corrugated but its a great drive and very scenic especially on the western end. Gemtree is a good stopover point before turning south to Alice Springs (check out the east and west MacDonnell Ranges while there) then a bit further south on the bitumen to Uluru and the Olgas. From Alice head up the Stuart Highway to Darwin, but have a look around Kakadu and Litchfield NPs while in that area. To get back to Brisbane you can either come back to Tennant Creek and head east on the bitumen towards Mt. Isa, or Carpentaria Hway and Vasannah Way towards Normanton, perhaps across to Cairns and down the coast. Lots of options about which roads to take.

Cheers,

Val

Val's way is more or less what we were planning "one day" and we're "sorta" Brissy way. It gives a bit of the "bouncy roads" on the way out, and a few of the "smoother" ones for the run back home. Some "in the wilds" camping on the way out, and some "aaahhh" camping opportunities in van parks with washing machines, hot showers etc etc (if wished) on the way back.
Winter will give pretty cool nights (I grew up in Newcastle and had never seen frost until we stopped at Erldunda-the turn off to Uluru- in August!). But at least the days are decent. In "shoulder season" (Easter or September) you run the risk of an early or late summer and high 30s. We experienced 38 degrees in Winton in late April last year and 37 degrees in Tibooburra in September.
A great variety of towns and sights along Val's suggested routes...
Enjoy the trip!
:)

no idea how much time you have or what you want to see but here's a route (you'd need to work out your stop overs though)
Brisbane to Nindigully to Cameron cnr via Noccundra, down the Strzelecki to Lyndhurst and then head up to William Creek passing Lake Eyre, on to Coober Pedy and Oodnadatta then onto Uluru.
From there head up the highway through Alice to Darwin stopping to see the sites along the way. leave Darwin and head home via Mataranka to Roper Bar and down the Savanah Way via Borroloola to Kingfisher Camp and then to Lawn Hill. From there head over to Normanton and ride the train before making your way back home via Julia Creek, Longreach etc....too easy...lol
i have driven all those sections, you'll have a great time.